By Jeffrey L. Boney, Associate Editor
Forward Times
Reprinted – by Texas Metro News
https://forwardtimes.com/
Community leaders and Jack Yates High School alumni raise questions and sound the alarm about $3,600, 30-year lease agreement between HISD and TSU
Back in February 2023, the Forward Times published an article about the Astros Foundation hosting the inaugural Cactus Jack HBCU Classic, in which the Astros Foundation announced they were providing $1 million to Texas Southern University (TSU) to build a new baseball and a softball stadium on their campus, as part of an ongoing partnership between the two organizations. To reiterate, the initial announcement, as it appeared in that February article, clearly stated that TSU was building two new stadiums on “their” campus.
As part of that initial announcement, Paula Harris, vice president of community affairs and executive director of the Astros Foundation, stated at that time that the Astros Foundation had begun a partnership with TSU the year before, and that they were committed to helping TSU get their own fields on their campus for the first time ever.
It was widely known that both the TSU baseball and softball programs have been playing at city parks in Houston for some time. The baseball team has been playing at MacGregor Park and the softball team has been playing at Memorial Park. It was then announced at that time that TSU would break ground and begin construction on the two new stadiums in the future.
Then, unbeknownst to many people in the community, things changed.
On October 3rd of this year, TSU released a media alert announcing that the University and the TSU Department of Athletics would be breaking ground on their new baseball and softball stadiums. According to the TSU press release, the baseball stadium will seat 1,080 spectators, while the softball stadium will have a capacity of 480. Both stadiums will share a concession stand and will have locker room space for both programs along with press boxes and lighting for night contests. The baseball stadium will also feature VIP seating for 80 spectators as both stadiums are projected to officially open in the spring of 2026.
Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Kevin Granger stated at the groundbreaking ceremony:
“We have a great partnership with the City of Houston where we currently play at (Macgregor Park/Memorial Park) but we wanted our own as it’s in the footprint of our campus. This is a huge day for our campus and I’m glad that I’m a part of it.”
But the thing is, the proposed stadiums are NOT going to be located on the campus of TSU at all. They are slated to be located on the Jack Yates High School campus instead, specifically on the current site where the Jack Yates baseball and softball fields are, which is on the corner of Cleburne and Sampson in Houston’s historic Third Ward.
Interestingly, what stood out about this groundbreaking ceremony was that it appears that no members of the Jack Yates High School administration were in attendance and no key members of the HISD administration were present, including HISD Superintendent Mike Miles.
Who wouldn’t be excited about an HBCU, namely TSU, getting their own baseball and softball stadiums to enhance their baseball and softball programs? The answer is probably, NO ONE.
However, there are many members of the Greater Houston community, along with some elected officials, and some members of the Jack Yates High School alumni, who want TSU to have their own stadiums, but have raised serious concerns and questions about the seemingly one-sided agreement that was announced between HISD and TSU, that they believe disparately impacts Jack Yates High School and the students who attend the historic Third Ward institution.
Some of the concerns that have been expressed include whether Jack Yates High School students and the community benefit from the $3,600, 30-year lease agreement that was negotiated between the two institutions, and whether the loss to the Jack Yates High School students and the community is fair and equitable. A few other concerns involve student safety, access to the stadiums, and other impacts to Jack Yates staff and students.
In a letter sent to the HISD Board of Managers, TSU Board of Regents, key stakeholders, and elected officials who cover both Jack Yates High School and TSU, the Jack Yates National Alumni Association (JYNAA) expressed several of their concerns and their desire to see this agreement overturned and revisited, stating:
As the Jack Yates National Alumni Association (JYNAA), we wish to express our deepest concerns about the decision that was made by the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to allow Texas Southern University (TSU) to have a baseball field and softball field built on the hallowed campus grounds of Jack Yates High School, in Houston’s historic Third Ward.
On April 13, 2023, the HISD Board of Trustees approved the following on their consent agenda:
Authority To Negotiate, Execute, And Amend a Lease Agreement and Joint Use Agreement with Texas Southern University For The Athletic Fields Located At Jack Yates High School (original agenda attached)
On October 3, 2024, TSU held a groundbreaking ceremony to announce the partnership between HISD and TSU related to having the baseball field and softball field built on the Jack Yates High School campus, unbeknownst to the alumni, or key stakeholders in the community. To be abundantly clear, we have come to learn that Jack Yates High School administrators were never made aware of the proposed plans for the baseball and softball fields to be located on the campus grounds of Jack Yates High School, at no time prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, which was held on October 3, 2024.
Furthermore, it has also come to our attention that the current Jack Yates High School administration was never included, nor were they involved, in any of the planning or any of the negotiations regarding the Jack Yates High School baseball and/or softball programs having unlimited access to the fields to practice or play.
The following is an impact listing based on current conversations with TSU athletic director, Kevin Granger, and how we, and many members of the community, believe Jack Yates High School is being negatively impacted by this questionable and ill-advised decision:
- Jack Yates High School will lose the tennis courts that were graciously donated by Linda McIngvale, wife of Jim McIngvale, which were approved at an estimated budget cost of $42,940. By moving forward with this, the Jack Yates High School tennis program will suffer.
- The Jack Yates High School Marching Band will no longer have a dedicated space to practice for games and performances, as they currently practice in the area being taken over.
- The Jack Yates baseball and softball programs will not have unlimited access to practice and play home games, primarily because of Jack Yates High School’s and TSU’s baseball and softball schedules overlapping, resulting in the ultimate elimination of critical and longstanding school programs at Jack Yates High School.
- There will be heightened student safety issues, because non-vetted individuals will consistently be in close proximity with countless underage Jack Yates High School students. Jack Yates High School students will be forced to interact with TSU students and stakeholders, without their consent, or their family’s consent, which infringes on Jack Yates High School students’ protected environment, in accordance with HISD policies, rules, and regulations.
- There will be a loss of field eligibility, because the proposed TSU baseball and softball fields will be built according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulations, which are not in accordance with the University Interscholastic League (UIL) regulations.
- This move will result in a loss of staff parking, which will have an impact on Jack Yates High School administrators being able to park safely, without incident.
In closing, the Jack Yates National Alumni Association has reviewed these disparate impacts on the Jack Yates High School campus, students, and community, and vehemently request that HISD, as stated in the authorization to negotiate, withdraw from this lease agreement effective immediately.
The Jack Yates High School students and community do not benefit from this lease agreement at all. In fact, holistically, the loss to the Jack Yates High School students and community and students far outweighs the $3,600, 30-year lease that was negotiated.
It is clearly stated in the agreement between HISD and TSU, that TSU: “Would allow the district to use the athletic fields to be constructed by TSU and memorializes TSU’s commitment to maintain and accommodate HISD’s future use of the athletic field.”
TSU has not made clear to the Jack Yates High School students and community how any of the accommodations and disparate impacts will be resolved, if at all. There is no successful outcome for Jack Yates High School students and community in this ill-conceived and one-sided agreement.
The Jack Yates National Alumni Association (JYNAA) respectfully demands that the agreement between HISD and TSU be terminated, and that the integrity, safety, and security of Jack Yates High School and the Jack Yates High School campus, be restored, effective immediately.
Respectfully submitted,
Jack Yates National Alumni Association (JYNAA)
Houston City Councilmember Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, who graduated from both schools and whose council district encompasses both Jack Yates High School and TSU, also submitted a letter on her District D Council letterhead to HISD and TSU with many of the similar concerns expressed by the JYNAA.
In her letter to HISD Superintendent Miles and Members of the HISD Board of Managers, dated November 14th, Councilmember Evans-Shabazz states the following:
As Councilwoman representing Houston’s historic Third Ward, I am writing to express my concerns regarding the decision to permit Texas Southern University (TSU) to build baseball and softball fields on the Jack Yates High School campus. This matter has recently come to my attention from the Jack Yates National Alumni Association, and I feel compelled to highlight its significant impact on Jack Yates High School students, staff, and the surrounding community.
She concludes the letter by stating:
In light of these concerns, I respectfully request a meeting between HISD, TSU, and myself to address these issues comprehensively. It is imperative that we collaboratively work toward a solution that prioritizes the needs and safety of Jack Yates High School while fostering a cooperative relationship with TSU.
I appreciate your attention to this critical matter and look forward to discussing how we can ensure the best outcomes for Jack Yates High School and the Third Ward community.
The Forward Times reached out to representatives from HISD and TSU to see if they have received the letters but were unable to get a response back prior to this article going to print, but the Forward Times will continue to follow this story to see if these concerns and questions will be addressed.
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